“Clever,” Olympia murmured. “She has probably been turning them to her side for years.”
“Do you know, it should have been the first thought I had when I noticed some of the entries in the estate books were incorrect. It was subtle and I could see that subtle bleeding away of funds had been going on for a very long time. Yet, despite what she had done to Faith, I could not completely accept the fact that my own mother would steal from me, from all of her children for she has undoubtedly bled funds from every property my father willed to each one of us.
“There could be excuses made for what she did to Faith. Nothing that would forgive what she had done but ones that could mitigate the horrible results of her actions. There is nothing one can think of to excuse the blatant theft from her own children.”
“It all comes back to why she is about to sell Agatha to Minden.”
“Money. Lots of it, I suspect. Why trouble yourself with a slow theft when you can get a lot of money quickly by selling your own child. I have the appalling thought that she may have done the same to my two older sisters although that was surely done with my father’s full consent, for he too loved money and was always in need of more. Nor did he bow to my mother’s wishes very often.”
“Your older sisters are unhappy in their unions?”
“Miserably so and have been for a very long time. When young and still idealistic, I did attempt to thrash some faithfulness and caring into their husbands but failed at that. They healed and continued on as they always had. Mary and Alice told me not to trouble myself again. Since then I have noticed that both of them have grown much harder, more bitter.”
“You would not have had to trouble yourself for me. I would have killed and buried them before you would have had time to be outraged.” She smiled faintly when he laughed. “I do not fully jest, you realize.”
“Oh, I do indeed realize that.”
“There has to be some way to get your sister Agatha clear of this mess. She is a sweet child and I shudder to think of that filth Minden touching her.”
“It is good of you to care so much for what happens to my sister but I know of her troubles and can handle them now.” Brant thought that sounded a bit arrogant but could think of no way to soften the words. “It is my place as her brother to do so.”
“I am the one who promised her the help she needed and thus I believe I have a place in the solving of this trouble.”
“I am certain Agatha knows you have done all you are able to or should be expected to do. The thought that my sister would expect you to actually join in the solving of what is a private family matter is absurd.” The moment the words left his mouth, Brant knew he had just made a serious mistake.
Chapter 4
“Did you just call me absurd?”
Brant almost took a step back from the feminine fury before him, but was proud of how he stood firm. He doubted there were many men who could do so before the look in Lady Olympia’s eyes. Although the woman had done a great deal to warn him about the danger Agatha was in as well as help his sister finally reach him, he could not allow her to get any more involved than she already was. His mother was a dangerous woman.
“I did not call you absurd,” he said firmly. “I meant no more than the fact that you intend to ride to Agatha’s rescue at my side was somewhat absurd.” The way her full lips firmed as her frown became more of a scowl told Brant that he was not explaining himself well at all, was quite possibly just making matters worse.
“Was I not the one who brought you the news about your sister?”
“You were indeed, m’lady, but now it is my place, my duty, to help Agatha.”
“All on your own.”
“As you told me earlier, I am the head of the Mallam household.”
“Whose mother wielded enough power to grab hold of the guardianship of Agatha. Do you even know who to speak with to try and regain that power? Will they even speak to you? I am certain that, when your mother got their agreement to give her full sway over Agatha’s life and future, she made very certain that they understood, and possibly believed, every nasty thing she said about you.”